Structure for Attaching  a Tool to a Frame Tube

ABSTRACT

Gang tube rail structure is attached to the lower front and rear corners of the implement gang tube to provide a lower clamp support. Two pivoting clamp jaws are attached to the clamp support and secured against the support by tightening a single clamp bolt extending between the lowermost portions of the jaws. A locator shoe is secured between the tube and the c-spring and includes a protrusion that projects into a hole in the c-spring. The ends of the locator shoe include short legs that wrap around the gang tube rail. The single clamp bolt provides a vertical clamp force that is approximately twice the tension generated in the bolt when the nut is tightened.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to attaching structure formounting tools on a frame tube of an implement and, more specifically,to attaching structure for mounting structure such as a disk gangc-springs or standard to the lower portion of a frame or gang tube.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditional disk gang c-spring attachments wrap around the gang tubewith u-bolts or bolts and plates. The c-spring is typically clamped tothe lower surface of the gang tube. Bolts and plates or u-bolts clampover the top of the tube. Having portions of components projecting overthe tube introduces interference problems when utilizing a common gangtube for multiple disk blade spacings because several locations on thetop of the gang tube must be kept free of hardware to attach other framemembers or other implement components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Formed gang tube rail structure is attached to the lower front and rearcorners of the implement gang tube to provide a lower clamp support. Twopivoting clamp jaws are attached to the clamp support and securedagainst the support by tightening a single clamp bolt extending throughtrunions in the lowermost portions of the jaws. To positively position ac-spring, a locator shoe is secured between the tube and the c-springand includes a protrusion that projects into a hole in the c-spring. Inaddition to the protrusion, the ends of the locator shoe include shortlegs that wrap around the gang tube rail to prevent relative motion, andshort downturned legs embrace the sides of the c-spring. The geometry ofthe clamp jaw and bolt result in a vertical clamp force that is amultiple of the tension generated in the bolt when the nut is tightened.The resulting mechanical advantage reduces the force needed to provide atight joint. A single clamp bolt and nut provide quick assembly forreduced cost and quick and easy field service. Different mountinglocations along the length of the rail structure can be selected whileavoiding any interference with hardware near the top of the frame tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a tillage implement frameincluding a tool clamp supporting a shank on frame rails.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged lower perspective view of the tool clamp and framerails of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tool clamp of FIG. 1 removed fromthe frame rails to better show the locator shoe.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, therein is shown a portion of an implement 10having a main frame 12 with a generally transversely extending framemember or frame tube 14 of rectangular cross section. The frame tube 14includes an uppermost wall 14 a and lowermost wall 14 b joined byupright fore-and-aft spaced walls 14 c. The implement 10 is shown as atillage implement supporting disk structure (not shown) from a toolsupport or shank assembly 16. However, it is to be understood that othertypes of tool supports or shank assemblies may also be used with thestructure described below.

The shank assembly 16 includes a c-shank 18 and a standard 19 supportedby tool mount structure 20 from the lower extremity of the frame tube 14so that none of the structure 20 projects above the plane of theuppermost wall 14 a of the frame tube 14. Additional mounting structure22 may be connected to the frame tube 14 directly above the tool mountstructure 20 for supporting frame components or other implementstructure.

The tool mount structure 20 includes clamping structure 24 and railstructure 26 releasably supporting the clamping structure 24 adjacentlower front and rear corners 14 f and 14 r of the frame tube 14. Theclamping structure 24 includes front and rear generally identical clampsor castings 24 f and 24 r, respectfully, having transversely spacedJ-shaped legs 28 f, 28 r (FIG. 2) that generally embrace the sides ofthe c-shank 18 and extend upwardly and around the rail structure 26.Each casting 24 f, 24 r includes a lower connecting portion 30supporting a pivoting bolt-receiving member 34 to define a trunnionmember. A single clamping bolt 36 extends through the bolt-receivingmembers 34, and a nut 38 is threaded onto one end of the bolt 36 to drawthe lower connecting portions 30 together and tighten the castings 24 fand 24 r against the rail structure 26. As the clamping bolt 36 istightened, the lower connecting portions 30 of the clamping structure 24will move upwardly against the c-shank 18.

The rail structure 26 includes front and rear rails 26 f, 26 r with aJ-shaped cross section. Upturned flanges 40 on the rails 26 f,26 r arewelded to the respective walls 14 c near the lower front and rearcorners 14 f,14 r. Leg portions 42 are welded to the lowermost wall 14b. The rails 26 f,26 r include curved portions 44 conforming to theshape of the ends of the castings 24 r, 24 f and support the castings inboth a loosened state during assembly and a tightened state when thebolt 36 is tensioned to secure the c-shank 18 to the frame tube 14.

To positively position the c-spring 18 or other tool support member, aninsert or locator shoe 50 is supported between the frame tube 14 and thec-spring 18. The locator shoe 50 conforms to the shape of the c-spring18 or other supported member. As shown, the locator shoe 50 includes aprotrusion 52 that projects into a hole in the c-spring 18. In additionto the protrusion 52, ends 56 of the locator shoe 50 include short legs56 that wrap around the rails 26 f,26 r and downturned sides 58 thatembrace the c-shank to help prevent relative motion between components.

As the clamping bolt 36 is tightened to draw the lower connectingportions 30 together, the top face of the locator shoe 50 is urgedupwardly against lower surfaces on the leg portions 42 of the railstructure 26, and the c-shank 18 is firmly secured in position betweenthe shoe 50 and the clamping structure 24. The geometry of the castings24 f,24 r and bolt 36 result in a vertical clamp force that is amultiple of the tension generated in the bolt 36 when the nut 38 istightened. The single clamping bolt 36 and nut 38 provide a mechanicaladvantage that reduces the force needed to provide a tight joint. Theabove-described structure and reduce the number of tightening operationsduring assembly compared to a conventional mounting arrangement.

Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent thatvarious modifications can be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A tool mount for connecting a tool shank toa frame member of an implement, the tool mount comprising: first andsecond spaced rail members connected to a lower portion of the framemember; opposed clamp jaws engaging the spaced rail members anddepending from the rail members to define a tool support-receivingportion below the frame member; a jaw tightening member extendingbetween the opposed clamp jaws below the spaced rail members and thetool support-receiving portion to urge lower portions of the clamp jawstowards each other to clamp the tool support to the lower portion of theframe member independently of additional fasteners above the railmembers.
 2. The tool mount as set forth in claim 1 including apositioning member located in the tool support-receiving portion matingwith the clamp jaws and the tool support and preventing relativemovement of the tool support and the rail members.
 3. The tool mount asset forth in claim 2 wherein the positioning member includes legsembracing the rail members.
 4. The tool mount as set forth in claim 1wherein the jaw tightening member includes a trunnion.
 5. The tool mountas set forth in claim 1 wherein the rails comprise J-shaped formed metalmembers located at corners of the tubular frame member.
 6. The toolmount as set forth in claim 1 wherein the jaw tightening member includesa bolt extending between the jaws and tightenable to draw the lowerportions together and upwardly towards the frame member.
 7. A tool mountfor connecting a tool shank to a tubular frame member of an implement,the frame member having upper and lower faces, the tool mountcomprising: spaced rail members connected to a lower portion of theframe member; a clamp having opposed clamp jaws extending between andengaging the spaced rail members, the clamp jaws depending from the railmembers to define a tool support-receiving portion below the framemember; a jaw tightening member extending between the opposed clamp jawsand the tool support-receiving portion below the lower face of the framemember to urge the clamp jaws towards each other to clamp the toolsupport to the lower face of the frame member, the jaws and railslocated substantially below the upper face of the frame.
 8. The toolmount as set forth in claim 7 wherein the spaced rail members comprisefirst and second rails connected to lowermost corners of the framemember.
 9. The tool mount as set forth in claim 7 wherein the clamp jawsare j-shaped and the rail members have a mating cross section.
 10. Thetool mount as set forth in claim 9 wherein the jaw-tightening membercomprises bolt member extending between the jaws.
 11. The tool mount asset forth in claim 7 further comprising a tool mounting insert connectedbetween the jaws for engaging the tool shank and the rails.
 12. The toolmount as set forth in claim 11 wherein the insert includes an indexingportion for mating with the tool shank.
 13. The tool mount as set forthin claim 11 wherein the insert includes tool shank wrapping legs. 14.The tool mount as set forth in claim 11 wherein the insert includes endsembracing the rail members.
 15. The tool mount as set forth in 7 whereinthe clamp and the jaw tightening members are supported from the railmembers independently of additional fasteners.
 16. The tool mount as setforth in claim 15 wherein the jaw tightening member comprises a singlebolt extending through pivoting members on the jaws.